Thanks, Rose. To achieve this resuscitation, we had to: * have new cypress clapboards specially milled to match the original so that the patches would not be obvious; * inside, take down the damaged original plasterboard and insulate the exterior walls before putting new drywall on; * restore the opening between the LR and the DR to its original width (at some point, the house had been used as a church); * replace all the windows with woodframe double-paned replicas of the originals; * heavy up the electricity; * install SpacePak flexible duct AC; * jack up the porch roof (it is clear from a heavy beam running front to back in the basement that the entire house had had to be jacked up a bit at one time, which is why there are no level horizontal surfaces in the house); and * replicate some of the roof corbels and other bits of trim that had gone missing over the past nine decades. I finally found on craigslist a door that is close to the original. Of course, by the time it was installed, the paint on the porch was already needing attention again. The bottom line is that we spent too much money (for the neighborhood, not for the house) to give this old sweetie another 90 years with no vinyl siding. [On this street so close to where box cars would have delivered the kits, there are two other Americus examples; they look ok from a distance, but the siding is not cypress.] It was a harrowing project that could not have been undertaken without a GC who has an affinity for old houses. I made some not great decisions along the way (i.e., the tile in the master bath looks closer to avocado than stone green). It is the most gratifying project I have ever completed. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had the money. And you need to keep up your good work so that other people will become as besotted as I am. Thanks again. hbk

I don't read in the bathroom either, Marygail, but have heard the bathroom called "the reading room" for so long, that was my first thought when I saw it. I had hoped to be able to use it and a lot of my other old things, and I hate that it took so long, but circumstances didn't dictate until now. I haven't lived in a real house in many years. I have often said, I hope I live in a house again before I die.

Thank you beveryly27 and springroz! I do like the 2 panel. Or the one panel. They aren't too busy and will look fine in a bifold too. I'm in Canada, and they seem to be around at the lumber stores here. And I'll let the poodle know someone thinks she's cute (as if she doesn't know it :) )

IdaClaire, I got that runner from esale rugs. They have loads of choices. The rug is holding up like a charm. I drop so much stuff on it and it cleans up nicely and looks the same as when I got it.